NCAA PICKS ATLANTA, NEW ORLEANS FOR WOMEN'S FINAL FOURS

Atlanta was awarded the 2003 Women's Final Four at the
GA Dome, and the NCAA picked New Orleans from a field of
five final cities to host the 2004 Women's Final Four at the
New Orleans Arena (New Orleans Arena). In Detroit,
Angelique Chengelis writes that the Detroit group was
"confident they made a solid presentation." Mid-Continent
Commissioner John Steinbrecher, a member of the group:
"We're obviously disappointed because we put a lot of work
into this. But at the same time, it was a learning
experience." Chengelis notes that 12 cities made "initial
bids" and Detroit, Charlotte and Memphis were finalists
(DETROIT NEWS, 7/7). Charlotte Regional Sports Commission
Exec Dir Jeff Beaver, on the city's bid: "Quite frankly I'm
a little surprised. ... They told us they'd be interested
down the road" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/7).